National Safety Mechanisms - Switzerland
National Safety Context
According to the Observatory of Killed Journalists there have not been any killing in Switwerland.
There is 1 ongoing national action plan with a specific component dedicated to improving the safety of journalists. More information on these initiatives is summarised below including relevant links.
National Action Plan for the safety of media professionals in Switzerland (2023-2027)
The National Action Plan for the safety of media professionals was established in 2023.
What activities are carried out?
The Action Plan aims to raise awareness in society and among politicians of the challenges faced by media professionals and of the fundamental importance of the media as part of an effective democracy, and provide recommendations to improve the safety of journalists. The Action Plan focuses on the physical and psychological integrity of media professionals, both offline and online.
The Action Plan advocates for several areas of action. Preventive measures include raising the awareness of young people about the importance of the media, collecting data on the safety of journalists, and promoting the dialogue between actors of the sector such as journalists, police, and industry representatives.
The Action Plan recommends further action to analyse abusive lawsuits at the national and regional level, also known as SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation).
How is it implemented? / Who are the stakeholders?
The development of the Action Plan was headed by OFCOM, the Swiss Federal Office for Communication. OFCOM organised round tables bringing together journalists and several media associations, corporations, trade unions, with representatives from federal offices. The Plan is now overseen by Federal Councilor Albert ¸éö²õ³Ù¾±.
For more specific information on the national action plan in Switzerland and those in other countries please follow the links.
